Liu Heng held the tureen in one hand and used the lid to stir the tea inside with the other hand. He said, "Don't blame me for speaking directly, Boss Tian. This time, Boss Tian came to Xujiazhuang not only for business matters."
Tian Shenglan put the lid on the cup and said with a smile, "I have long heard that Dongzhu Liu is a smart man. When I saw him today, he was indeed extraordinary."
Liu Heng smiled, picked up the bowl and took a sip.
Seeing that Tian Shenglan was not in a hurry to tell him the reason for his visit, he simply stopped asking. Since the other party came to the door on his own, he would take the initiative to tell him sooner or later.
"What do Mr. Liu think of the Fan family in Zhangjiakou?" Tian Shenglan suddenly asked.
Liu Heng put down his tureen and said, "Master Tian, this is for the Fan family."
Tian Shenglan shook her head with a smile and said, "The Fan family has a great business and there is no shortage of people to help them. My Tian family will not join in the fun."
Upon hearing this, Liu Heng raised his eyes and glanced at Tian Shenglan opposite.
From Tian Shenglan's words, he could faintly feel Tian Shenglan's dissatisfaction with the Fan family, and even a hint of resentment.
"Actually, I came to Xujiazhuang this time to cooperate with Boss Liu," Tian Shenglan looked at Liu Heng and said.
"Oh, how does Landlord plan to cooperate?" Liu Heng said, "I can't think of a place where I can cooperate with Landlord. Could it be that Landlord is planning to buy ironware and food from our Tiger Flag like the Fan family?"
Tian Shenglan shook his head and said, "Of course we have to buy some ironware, but our Tian family can sell the food to Dongzhu Liu's Tiger Flag."
Liu Heng smiled and said, "I, Tiger Flag, have no shortage of food. On the contrary, the Fan family often buys food from Tiger Flag."
"There was no shortage of food before, but once the trade routes were opened on the grassland, Dongzhu Liu was probably short of a lot of food," Tian Shenglan said.
Liu Heng picked up the tureen and took a sip of tea, without admitting or denying it.
Tian Shenglan said, "Dr. Liu is worried about the relationship between my Tian family and Fan family."
"Boss Tian has misunderstood. The relationship between the Tian family and the Fan family has nothing to do with my tiger-character flag." Liu Heng shook his head slightly.
As a businessman, Tian Shenglan naturally didn't believe this.
I just heard him say, "Actually, the relationship between our Tian family and the Fan family is not as good as outsiders imagine. It's just that the Fan family bought grain from my Tian family and sent it to Beilu, and then resold Beilu's leather goods to our Tian family." , at most, they can be regarded as business partners.”
Liu Heng blew on the tea in the tureen.
Tian Shenglan glanced at it and said, "I know that Liu Dongzhu is planning to open up the trade routes between the northern captives, and my Tian family is willing to do our best."
Liu Heng used the lid of the cup to stir up the tea and said, "Tian Boss really thinks highly of me. Hu Zi Qi is just an iron seller. If the Tian family wants to buy iron, there will be no shortage of it in Hu Zi Qi. As for the other Tian owners, I'm afraid Misunderstood."
"Fan's family is connected to Donglu," Tian Shenglan suddenly said.
Liu Heng grabbed the lid of the cup and looked at Tian Shenglan in front of him with a strange expression.
You must know that in addition to the Fan family, the eight great imperial merchants in the future will also include the one in front of them. But at this time, Tian Shenglan actually accused the Fan family of having an affair with the Eastern captives.
Tian Shenglan said, "The Fan family has been in contact with the Donglu since the death of Mrs. Fan. Now the Fan family has always wanted to open up business routes with the Donglu through Ji Town, but it is a pity that there are five tribes of Chahar and Khalkha in the middle. Because of the obstruction, the trip has never been possible.”
Hearing this, Liu Heng understood.
At this time, the Fan family probably had not yet smuggled grain, grass, and iron items to the northern barbarians. It could only be said that they had such a plan. Tian Shenglan in front of them was probably still innocent, so she had the confidence to accuse the Fan family of smuggling the barbarians.
Li Shuheng, who had been silent for the whole time, said with a calm face, "If the Fan family has illicit connections with the Eastern captives, aren't you afraid that the imperial court will confiscate the Fan family and ask for execution?"
He only had hatred for the Jurchens.
As someone who came from Liaodong, he knew very well how ferocious the Jurchens were. Not only did they plunder, but massacres of cities occurred from time to time. They treated the Han people just like pigs and dogs.
Tian Shenglan just smiled and did not answer.
Liu Heng said, "The adults in the imperial court are busy fighting for power, and the guards in the border towns are busy collecting benefits from the merchants. What's more, the Fan family has not yet made the trip, and there is no evidence, so it cannot be regarded as a bribe."
Li Shuheng opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing.
"If Mr. Tian cooperates with me, Tiger Flag, aren't you afraid of being accused of being a bandit?" Liu Heng said suddenly.
"Dongzhu Liu is joking," Tian Shenglan said, "Governor Liu doesn't even think that Dongzhu Liu is a bandit. The words of others are just because he is jealous of Dongzhu Liu's wealth and should not be taken seriously."
Liu Heng tapped the armrest of the seat with his fingers, and after a while he said, "How does Mr. Tian want to cooperate?"
After hearing this, Tian Shenglan sat upright and said, "My Tian family has a grain store and fields in the Xuanfu area. As long as Dongzhu Liu is willing, our Tian family is willing to sell grain to Tiger Flag."
Liu Heng said, "Didn't Mr. Tian just say that all the food of the Tian family is sold to the Fan family? Even if that's the case, wouldn't the cooperation between you and me be the same as that of the Fan family? Why does Mr. Tian bother to come all the way?" Just go to Lingqiu and cooperate directly with the Fan family."
Tian Shenglan said, "I hope that after Liu Dongzhu opens up the trade route on the grassland, he can take the Tian family to the grassland with him."
"The Tian family has been operating in Xuanfu for so many years. It is impossible that they have no contact with Beilu. Why should they take the tiger-character flag and go to the grassland?" Liu Heng said.
The Tian family has also been operating in the border town for several generations. He does not believe that there is no connection between the other party and Beilu, or that almost all Shanyou businessmen with some reputation have secret dealings with Beilu.
"To be honest with Mr. Liu," Tian Shenglan said, "Since the Fan family fawned over Su Nang Taiji, who was on the Banshengdi, my Tian family's goods were sent to the grasslands several times, but they were all robbed by horse bandits, resulting in my Tian family's losses a lot. "
Liu Heng frowned and said, "What Boss Tian means is that these horse bandits were ordered by the Fan family."
"Who else could be there besides the Fan family? Fan Yongdou has always wanted his family to monopolize the trade route between Zhangjiakou and Beilu. My Tian family is a thorn in the flesh." Tian Shenglan said bitterly.
Liu Heng looked stunned.
He didn't expect that the Fan family and the Tian family would have such hatred. He thought that the eight royal families should have good relations with each other.
Tian Shenglan said, "If Dongzhu Liu doesn't believe that the Tian family's convoy going to the grassland was robbed, he can send someone to investigate. I believe that with Dongzhu Liu's ability, he will definitely know whether I am lying."
"If this matter is true, then the Fan family has indeed gone too far." Liu Heng said.
Tian Shenglan said, "I know that Dongzhu Liu lacks connections with Beilu. As long as Dongzhu Liu is willing, my Tian family can hand over this relationship to you, Dongzhu Liu. As long as Dongzhu Liu goes to the grassland, he can take my Tian family's motorcade with him."
Hearing this, Liu Heng showed hesitation.
This has advantages and disadvantages for Hu Ziqi. The advantage is that he can contact Beilu through the Tian family. The disadvantage is that even if the business route is opened, part of the profits will be shared by the Tian family.
After pondering for a moment, he said, "Mr. Tian, why don't you stay in Xujiazhuang first? Let me think about it and give you an answer, Mr. Tian."
Tian Shenglan also knew that it was unrealistic to get an answer right away, so without any disappointment, she stood up, cupped her hands and said, "Then I'll wait for the good news from Dongzhu Liu."
"Definitely, definitely." Liu Heng also arched his hands.
